UN International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances: Honouring Eritrea’s Missing Voices

On the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, CSW shares a guest blog post from our friends and partners at Human Rights Concern-Eritrea (HRC-E).

As the world marks the UN International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, we stand in solidarity with the countless Eritrean families who have endured decades of pain, uncertainty, and fear. This day is a poignant reminder of the grave human rights violations committed by the Eritrean government, which continues to use enforced disappearance as a means to silence dissent and control its population.

Eritrea is one of the most repressive states in the world, where enforced disappearances are not isolated incidents, but part of a systematic campaign to quash opposition. Thousands of Eritreans, including political dissidents, journalists, religious figures, and ordinary citizens, have been forcibly disappeared—detained without trial, often in secret prisons, leaving their families in the dark about their fate or whereabouts.

Notable Victims of Enforced Disappearance

Among the many victims of enforced disappearance in Eritrea are:

• Bitweded Abraha, a political prisoner who has been in solitary confinement since October 1991. His detention, without any contact with the outside world, is a stark example of the Eritrean regime’s disregard for human rights.

• The G-11, a group of eleven high-ranking government officials who were arrested and held incommunicado since September 2001, after they called for democratic reforms. Their fate remains unknown, and their families have been left in a perpetual state of despair.

• Journalists, detained since 2001, have been held incommunicado for over two decades. These brave individuals were arrested for simply doing their job—reporting the truth. Their continued detention is a direct attack on freedom of expression.

• Religious leaders, detained since 2004, have been held without trial, solely for practicing their faith. Their prolonged and unjust detention underscores the Eritrean government’s intolerance of freedom of religion or belief.

• Over 10,000 other prisoners of conscience, who have been arrested for their beliefs, political views, peaceful activism, or suspected opposing the government’s policies are also victims of enforced disappearance. These individuals have been detained without charge or trial, often in inhumane conditions.

The Pain of Not Knowing

The impact of enforced disappearance extends far beyond the individual victims. Families are left in a state of constant anguish, not knowing whether their loved ones are dead or alive. The psychological and emotional toll is immeasurable, with families often ostracized, living in fear of further retribution if they seek information about their disappeared relatives.

A Call for Justice and Accountability

Today, we call upon the international community, human rights organizations, and governments worldwide to take decisive action to end the practice of enforced disappearance in Eritrea. We urge the UN and its member states to hold the Eritrean government accountable for its grave violations of human rights and to demand the immediate release of all who have been forcibly disappeared.

Standing with the Victims

On this solemn day, we reaffirm our commitment to the victims of enforced disappearance in Eritrea. Their voices may have been silenced, but their struggle for justice is not forgotten. We stand with the families who continue to search for their loved ones, and we pledge to amplify their voices on the global stage.

Enforced disappearance is a crime against humanity, and the world must not turn a blind eye. As we commemorate this day, let us renew our resolve to end this heinous practice and ensure that the victims in Eritrea, and around the world, are never forgotten.

Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)

Featured Image: ‘Eritrea – Government building, Asmara‘ by Charles Fred 遵循以下协议 知识共享 署名-相同方式共享 2.0.